Education leads way for sustainable future

This year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards’ Finalists, representing over 1 million students, 172,000 staff and a combined annual turnover of £15 billion, are leading the way with their commitment to the global sustainability agenda and proving the value that universities and colleges bring to the economy and society. The Finalists emphasise an institution’s role in enabling and empowering young people to tackle pressing global issues to ensure they have a better tomorrow.

Finalist submissions range from initiatives that tackle modern slavery to Parent Power in the fight against inequality. They include a partnership with Coca Cola that saves plastic bottles by providing reusable bottles with microchips and a soft drink dispenser that senses them, and the first UK university community fridge.

To be held at York’s historic National Railway Museum, the Awards Ceremony recognises sustainability best practice within the further and higher education sectors. The Awards provide the sector with benchmarks for excellence and are respected by Government, funding councils, senior management, academics and students.

There will also be a new twist at the prestigious Awards Ceremony. For the first time, attendees will be voting a winner for the new category ‘Outstanding Leadership Team of the Year’ live on the night!

Every day, tireless environmental, social and sustainability leaders across the UK and Ireland are driving change and showing the value universities and colleges bring to the economy and society

For the second year running, applicants were tasked with outlining how their sustainability projects delivered against the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 46% of this year’s finalists listed ‘sustainable cities and communities’ as an SDG they are delivering. Meanwhile just under half are working towards ‘responsible consumption and production’ and 41% put forward projects that improved ‘quality education’. To show the breadth of the impact education has on the delivering against the SDGs, 33% stated they are delivering against the ‘health and well-being’ SDG and one in four delivering ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’.

Between the finalists, the projects touch on every department and permeate across the whole curriculum. They are conducted by students, staff, academics, external stakeholders and can be found all across the UK and Ireland. These initiatives are a shining example of the power post-16 education possesses and the seriousness with which it takes its responsibility in creating a better world and a new generation of leaders.

Iain Patton, Chief Executive at the EAUC, said: “The EAUC has really stepped it up a gear this year with its commitment to the SDGs and partnership working. This has been driven by the post-16 education sector and its commitment to the Global Goals. The Green Gown Award applications show the truly pioneering initiatives being borne in post-16 education. Every day, tireless environmental, social and sustainability leaders across the UK and Ireland are driving change and showing the value universities and colleges bring to the economy and society. The Green Gown Awards exist to give them the recognition and platform they need to share their learning and do even more.”

The Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 8th November 2018 at the National Railway Museum in York

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